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Welcome to our Information For Authors hub. In these pages we’ve gathered together all the information and advice you’ll need as an author, editor or contributor from the start of the process – submitting a proposal – through to publication and beyond.

Health and safety risk management

In the work environment health may be given less attention than safety. Most engineers and technicians understand the need to pay attention to safety risks, but perhaps have very little idea about the hazards and costs (both human and financial) associated with health risks.

Occupational health

Every week in the UK about a million people take sick leave. For most it is a case of a couple of days off due to a cold, or flu, before getting back to work. However, around three thousand will still be sick in six months-time and of those a proportion will not work again in the next five years. The longer term problems may be physical due to consequences of industrial accidents or, for example, migraines and diabetes; or mental, for example, depression or stress.

The continuity and financial impact on business from such health issues within its workforce are substantial. Government estimates put the costs of disability-related payments (accidents and ill-health) to the UK economy at around £10-15bn a year.

In addition to reducing their personal exposure to occupational health and safety risks, engineers and technicians have a responsibility to reduce the occupational health and safety risks posed to others by their designs, installations, maintenance work, and general conduct activities. The Panel aims to bring the issues to the attention of IET members and to provide convenient access to the wealth of health and safety advice available.

Health and guidance

Current work-streams are to produce health and safety risk management guidance for engineers and technicians in their initial years of work; and considering broader topics such as the health and safety responsibilities in projects involving contractors. These are in addition to maintaining and enhancing the portfolio of IET health and safety briefings and factfiles.